2016 Election

Hillary was to have been the nominee in 2008. There was nothing stopping her when everyone started talking about it early on. Sure, other candidates were around and talked about...but she was on her way. The President Obama stepped up from his promising speech at the convention a few years back and took over the race. Hillary was soon on the way down and out.

There is no one with Obama's charisma in the demo race yet, but there are some solid dems interested in running. This should be Clinton's nomination but it isn't clear at all that she will win or even make it to the finish line. I'm not counting her out, of course, because the dem side is free to ignore emails, Benghazi, and all the other stuff that goes along with another President Clinton (the last one triangulated rather than stick to liberal principles; she'd likely do the same because they both crave approval over doing the right thing...like many, many other politicians).

The problem Hillary has is that no one really likes her. She is not a likable figure. It isn't looks, it isn't race, it isn't sex...she just is not a person you want to like for many folks. Bill was much, much more likable and it worked in getting him through the scandals. She does not have that, so more sticks to her than to him.

Of course we could have another President Clinton. The election is months and months away. This is where we are today, though, and it is not a clear path for her to the White House...

Quote: RonC

The problem Hillary has is that no one really likes her. She is not a likable figure. It isn't looks, it isn't race, it isn't sex...she just is not a person you want to like for many folks. Bill was much, much more likable and it worked in getting him through the scandals. She does not have that, so more sticks to her than to him.

I don't care for Bill and I would not trust him with the change if he went to pick up wings and pizza. But I get the feeling that if he and I were at an uncrowded bar we could find a subject to talk about. We could talk football, cars from the 60s, or some random, common interest. Not so with Hillary. Bill is the kind of guy who knows his subordinates know more than him on lots of issues. Hillary reminds me of bosses telling me something I know is wrong and will not listen to a word I say.

I wouldn't count Hillary out, as some of the repub diehard's here are doing or hoping for.

If she is charged with something, then yes, she is done. I don't think that will happen and all the experts I have seen on numerous channels, that aren't Fox New don't think it will either (unless something new emerges). I believe the worst that will happen is that the investigations conclude that she used bad judgement, which anyone who is interested already knows.

The betting odds have Hillary at 1-4 to win the democratic nominee (that's wagering $4 for every $1 you will win), and that should tell you something. If the consensus of experts really thought she was in danger, money would be flowing differently and those odds far different. At this point, STILL before Labor day, where people are putting their money is a much stronger indicator that polls, in which are measuring the fantasies of an electorate that really hasn't gotten serious yet.

On top of this Hillary still has no real challenge. Bernie Sanders ISN'T running for president. He is running to move the democratic party to the left a bit and in the end will write a book about his liberal/socialist idea that will help pad his retirement, as he fades into the sunset. Joe Biden is no threat. I like Joe. I think he is a good man.... a little goofy and error prone, but basically a good man. But he's not presidential material. He has proven that in two previous runs where he never got more than low single digit support. He's not going anywhere, and I really don't think he is going to try. There is absolutely no path for him. Why would he want to suffer a humiliating loss before HE rides off into the sunset.

So Hillary will be the democratic nominee. The repub side is much less sure. Whoever the repubs put up is at a disadvantage with the electoral college vote. And a male candidate, which is very likely will have to tread lightly so as not to be seen as attacking a woman. That is probably unfair, but it is reality.

And once we have the nominees on both sides, those likables and unlikables will change. Hillary will be out campaigning with her grandchild by her side and be seen as a softer more likeable grandmotherly type. And she will get some votes from women and even some men, just because she is a woman and they want to that 'barrier' broken. She will likely attract new female voters into the process that might now otherwise vote, just as Obama did with blacks.

So forget the polls the day before Labor Day, over a year out from the presidential election. If you want to know who is REALLY the front runner, follow the money.....the money people are wagering.

Quote: terapined

You tell me
Life is good
gas is down
Gays can marry
Kim Davis in jail

Anybody got the over/under on how many Muslims are imprisoned for refusing to go against their beliefs?

"A Muslim flight attendant says she was suspended by ExpressJet for refusing to serve alcohol in accordance with her Islamic faith. In a bid to get her job back, Charee Stanley filed a discrimination complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on Tuesday for the revocation of a reasonable religious accommodation. She wants to do her job without serving alcohol in accordance with her Islamic faith -- just as she was doing before her suspension, her lawyer said.

"What this case comes down to is no one should have to choose between their career and religion and it's incumbent upon employers to provide a safe environment where employees can feel they can practice their religion freely," said Lena Masri, an attorney with Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

"Stanley, 40, started working for ExpressJet nearly three years ago. About two years ago she converted to Islam. This year she learned her faith prohibits her from not only consuming alcohol but serving it, too, Masri said. She approached her supervisor on June 1 and was told to work out an arrangement for someone to fulfill passenger requests for alcohol. cnn 9/6

One difference is Kim Davis wouldn't let anyone else issue licences at the office on her behalf, and insists that any licenses issued in her absense are invalid.

Did the stewardess refuse to let her airline serve alcohol?

Quote: kewlj

I wouldn't count Hillary out, .

Me neither. I look forward to 'this' leading
the most powerful country in the world.

Yup.

"You cannot tell whether someone is failing or succeeding without knowing what they are trying to do."

There are obvious exceptions. (I don't mean the pictures.)

Here's another poll for the Trump deniers to ignore. He leads Hillary by 5 in iowa

He's down by just 1 in New Hampshire

When Trump wins next year it will be so sweet rubbing the Trump deniers faces in it...................................

Here's the way I see it. Trump may or may not start to collapse......that's definitive, hum? :) A more traditional candidate would have already not survived the things he has said and done. But he's not a traditional candidate and these aren't 'normal' times. You have to throw away all conventional wisdom and see how this plays out.

What seems much more definitive to me is that Jeb Bush's campaign has suffered a fatal blow. Some of that because of Trumps constant attacks, some of that many unforced errors and lack of enthusiasm on Jebs part, some just some policy positions that conflict with the republican electorate (we knew this coming in). Some because of his last name.

It's not that some new exciting candidate is at the top of the polls. We have seen this many times before. Last cycle with Bachman and the Pizza guy. The real danger issue for Jeb is that he has sunk down to 5-6% like the has been/wannabe type candidates. That is a fatal blow for a front runner.

Sure he has a lot of money. But he is now going to have to use that money to try to re-frame his own image and that's a much harder thing to do. I don't think he has a chance, even if Trump does tumble. And I don't think Carson is the guy either. he has little organization behind him. Carson is VERY similar to the pizza guy....not a serious candidate. It remains to be seen whether Trump is this unorthodox period is in that group.

But if Trump does fall, I think the beneficiary will be either Kasich or Rubio. I've always thought Rubio has all the tools. Young, good-looking very personable , well spoken guy. he's Latino on top of that, although Cuban Latino is a bit different than Mexican or south American Latino. Doesn't connect quite the same.